Why Technical Bulletins Are Not on the Federal Safety Agency Website
The National Highway Traffic Safety Admnistration (NHTSA) has long refused to post the technical bulletins that auto manufacturers issue to their dealers. Some of the bulletins announce warranty extensions for certain repairs. Knowing a warranty extension would benefit affected car owners. With the information, they would know the manufacturer would pay for needed repairs.
Christopher Jensen of the NY Times reports the agency claims that copyright concerns prevent publication, but most manufacturers say they do not object to having their bulletins published. A Ford spokesman said Ford was afraid that if do-it-yourselfers obtain the bulletins, they would take it upon themselves to perform repairs for which they are not qualified thus ignoring the fact that the bulletins are available from publishers like Alldata.
Clarence Ditlow of the Center for Auto Safety said that this was a case of the agency was more concerned about catering to industry rather than helping consumers.
